Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $728 in Basra versus $893 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,340 in Basra versus $1,364 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,953 in Basra versus $1,834 in Zakho.

Living in Basra costs roughly 18% less than in Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 46% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 IQD 4,876

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-51.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

6.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,194

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

-19.12%

Cappuccino

$2.10 IQD 2,753

$3.13 IQD 4,095

-32.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 608

$0.48 IQD 628

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.22 IQD 288

54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 IQD 4,926

$2.01 IQD 2,629

87.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,553

$2.08 IQD 2,722

30.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,614

$1.37 IQD 1,789

-10.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.81 IQD 1,056

-13.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,854

$1.79 IQD 2,351

-20.67%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,474

$1.97 IQD 2,585

-4.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

$7.57 IQD 9,916

4.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 IQD 9,440

$4.79 IQD 6,274

50.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

-7.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,316

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-12.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,856

$1.14 IQD 1,493

24.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.17 IQD 1,537

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.81 IQD 1,064

-23.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.76 IQD 990

-18.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.77 IQD 1,013

1.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 545

$0.52 IQD 687

-19.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,550

$2.73 IQD 3,576

-28.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

5.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 IQD 4,090

$1.43 IQD 1,871

118.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

$2.04 IQD 2,668

92.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.40 IQD 522

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

-26.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$2.32 IQD 3,034

1.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,032

$2.30 IQD 3,013

0.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 IQD 9,133

$6.74 IQD 8,823

3.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.70 IQD 913

-20.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-29.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

12.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

-42.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

43.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

27.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

-0.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

-9.83%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

-32.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

$266 IQD 348.1K

-63.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

19.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

26.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

-56.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

-11.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

-47.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 IQD 587.3K

$238 IQD 311.4K

88.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.7K

$178 IQD 233.2K

-23.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$584 IQD 764.9K

57.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$676 IQD 885.0K

$343 IQD 449.7K

96.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$777 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 IQD 1.0M

$646 IQD 846.6K

18.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Basra: April 27, 2026

Last update for Zakho: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $448 in Basra and $238 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Basra vs $23.00 in Zakho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $195 per month, with Zakho cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Basra vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Zakho differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($728 vs $893 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Basra pays 19% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $448 in Basra versus $238 in Zakho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Zakho pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Basra – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $23.00 in Zakho. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Basra gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Basra and Zakho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.